News regarding the life and ministry of our wonderfully diverse and energized faith community

Welcome to First Notes!

If you have items for our notes, we ask that they be submitted to the office by email no later than Wednesdays at 9:00 AM.

First Food and Friends

First Church will be providing the volunteer team for the First Food and Friends Saturday meal on April 9.  We will prepare and serve the meal from 9am to 1pm or any time in between that you would be able to help.  Meet in the church kitchen.

In addition, we will be packing Easter Breakfast Bundles that will be given to our friends the following Saturday so that they can enjoy an Easter breakfast.

Concert of Peace

Note from Leadership Council: This Concert of Peace is an expression of solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and we support, through both music and resources for humanitarian aid the universal values of freedom and human rights that are under violent attack in Ukraine.

A Concert for Peace

Teaching Seder

Ellie and Gary Sorock are hosting a “teaching seder” to invite us into this important Jewish tradition which deeply informs Christian theology and practice as well. We’ll have good food, lots of singing, and lots of fun for people of all ages (especially kids!)

It will take place here at First on Sunday, April 3, at 12:15 PM. If you and your family are coming in person, please RSVP by Thursday, March 31 to office@fumcpittsburgh.org so we can prepare the Seder booklets and special foods.

If you are not able to join us in person, we will also be presenting it on YouTube, and we can send you a Seder booklet if you email the request.

Thanks,

Ellie Sorock & Joe Smith

Easter Flowers

Easter holds a wonderful place for us to remember and honor our loved ones through the gifting of lilies and flowers. Traditionally our Easter bulletins list the names of those who are being remembered and honored. Families have purchased flowers that are used for adorning the altar on Easter, then the flowers are taken home by those that purchased them.

We honor this Easter tradition this year in a new way. Families are able to remember and honor loved ones by giving a gift of $10.00. Rather than lilies and tulips, gifts received will be gathered and sent to UMCOR to support Ukrainian refugees. Rather than purchasing flowers, the community of FUMC is asked to craft flowers (any flower is acceptable, from tissue, paper plate, Kleenex, construction paper, etc…) and bring them to church so that the altar rail and altar can be adorned for the Easter Celebration. On Palm Sunday we will provide flower kits for the children and instructions on how to create a few types of flowers.

In addition to crafting these flowers, we are asking that prayers for Ukraine are written on the flower.

With your donation, please give the correct spelling of your loved ones that will be listed on the bulletin insert.

If you’d like to honor a loved one but are unable to give a donation at this time, you can just provide the name.

Lenten Devotionals

Each morning at 6:00am a new devotional will appear in our YouTube playlist. We are grateful for all of the wonderful participation and anticipate a deeper connection as we share stories with one another.

Here is the link for the devotional playlist:

Lenten Devotional Playlist

The confession statement for this Sunday is:

I haven’t allowed myself to grow into ________________ because I always thought I should hold onto _______________________.

Saving Lives, Keeping the Peace: A Forum on Policing and Social Justice

Event Purpose/Expectations

This event will be an opportunity for participants to explore how communities of faith can be supportive of the ongoing, long-term efforts of organizations that have been working with law enforcement and local government to bring about changes for the common good. This gathering will be a space to listen, learn, ask questions, and identify how can best do our part in this important work.

We will explore how we can effectively work together in saving lives and keeping the peace as communities, communities of faith, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations

Event Date / Time:  

Sunday, April 10, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m                    

Vigil in memory of Jim Rogers and Peter Spencer – at 12:30-1:00 p.m.

on the corner of Centre Ave. and South Aiken  

Revival Chili Food Truck – at 12:00 noon

Event location:

First United Methodist Church of Pittsburgh, 5401 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh

Masks Required 

Registration

Confirmed presenters are leaders of the following organizations:

The Abolitionist Law Center

The Alliance for Police Accountability 

The Black Political Empowerment Project 

Christian Associates of SW PA

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

Pittsburgh Citizen Police Review Board

Sponsoring organizations:

The Alliance for Police Accountability

The Black Political Empowerment Project

The Pittsburgh District (United Methodist) Anti-Racism Team

The Quaker Working Group Against Racism     

Questions should be directed to the church office at office@fumcpittsburgh.org.  

FUMC Sunday Cast for Congregation and the World

Most of you by now have seen or heard of our weekly worship experiences we are posting on YouTube. We hope they have been meaningful to all of you. We invite you to share the experience with friends and family far and wide. If you search for “fumcpitt” on YouTube it will take you to our church page where you can find all past videos and also the live SundayCast. An email will still be sent out to the FUMC email list each week by early Sunday morning with a link for each “live” experience. We are grateful to be able to connect in this way.

Christian Education and Spiritual Formation

Sunday School classes meet each Sunday from 9:45 to 10:45 AM. A combination of online and in-person classes reflects our commitment to being one community in multiple locations and modalities.

Sunday School Classes for Children and Youth

Miss Helen and Miss Becky are holding Godly Play in person and ONLINE. (Watch on YouTube on Sunday mornings at 9:30.)

Older children and youth will gather in the Fellowship Hall with Joe and Rudeene for group games and discussions about the Bible, spirituality, and social justice.

The nursery (just outside the sanctuary) is staffed by Emily Burke, our loving and nurturing childcare professional, from 9:30 to 12:30 each Sunday.

There are no online Sunday School offerings for children or youth at this time.

Godly Play will be celebrating Passover on April 3, both online and in person.

Godly Play will celebrate Palm Sunday both online and in person on April 10.

Online sessions premiere on YouTube at 9:30am.  In person sessions start at 10:00am.

On Easter Sunday, join Miss Helen and Miss Becky for Easter Sunrise Service premiering on YouTube at 6:30 am.  There will be no in person Godly Play on Easter Sunday.

Adult Discussion Groups

Seekers

Sundays 9:45-10:45 AM

The Seekers class is facilitated by one of our former pastors, Rev. David Keller. They discuss various topics related to the Bible, spirituality, justice, and personal growth.

Interested persons can join us by obtaining the Zoom ID and code from the church office at office@fumcpittsburgh.org.

The subject for April 3 is “Taking Up One’s Cross and the Myth of Redemptive Suffering,” an essay by Herb Montgomery.

Coffee and Chat

Sundays 9:45-10:45 AM

A casual conversation group. A Zoom link is available. Please contact the church office (office@fumcpittsburgh.org) for more information or to receive the Zoom link.

Lenten Movie Series at FUMC in the Gathering Space

Movie begins 6:31pm – (that’s right you get a whole extra minute not to be late.  It will be important to start on time so discussion after the movie will not be rushed.)

Gathering Space is our meeting ground. (For family night, Encanto, you might want to bring a blanket for the kids to watch movie from.)

COVID protocol of mask wearing and physical spacing will be followed

Encanto will host the only family conversation centered discussion, conversations surrounding the other films, will be adult centered.

Theology and Gifts April 3, 2022

Encanto (1:42) 2021

A Columbian teenage girl has to face the frustration of being the only member of her family without magical powers.

A Prayerful Quote

Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.

–Sarah Ban Breathnach

Church Staff